Attachment for locomotives.



No. 816,688. PATENTED APR. 8, 1906. S. G. STEVENS.

ATTACHMENT FOR LOCOMOTIVES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 22. 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No 816,688. PATENTED APR. 3, 1906.

s. G. STEVENS.

ATTACHMENT FOR LOCOMOTIVES;

APPLICATION FILED JULY 22. 1904:.

' BET 2.

UNITE STATES PATENT oriucn.

RENOE SWITCH 00., OF DULUTH,

MINNESOTA, A CORPORATION.

ATTACHMENT FOR LOCOMOTIVES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 3, 1906.

Application filed July 22, 1904:- Serial NO- 217,721-

To all whom, it may concern.-

Beit known that I, SYLvEsTER G. STEVENS, of Duluth, St. Louis county, Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch-Operating Attachments for Locomotives, of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention consists of a new and useful improvement in a locomotive attachment for operating an automatic railroad-switch, and while it is shown in connection with a steam-locomotive it is evident that the same construction may be used to similar advantage on any railroad motor-car, such as electric or cable.

It has for its object to provide a simple device to operate a depressible tread or bar from a passing motor or locomotive, said tread or bar in turn operating an automatic switch.

I am aware that there are a number of patent automatic switches which are designed to be operated from a passing locomotive and provided with one or more vertically-movable bars or treads usually arranged to operate very near to and up to the level of the top of the track-rails.

My present invention consists in improved means for operating such switches.

I11 the drawings I merely show the approximate position of the vertically -'movable treads, as its construction or attachment to the switch does not enter into this invention.

Referring to the drawings accompanying this specification, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a locomotive equipped with my attachment. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side View of the more essential part of the attachment, and Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the same.

In the drawings, 2 represents a short shaft journaled in the extensions 3 3 of the pen truck frame 3 and parallel with the axle of the truck.

4 represents a similar though longer shaft on the opposite side of the truck and extending across to meet and form a continuation of the shaft 2. The object of making this shaft in two parts will be obvious, as one must be operative independent of the other. The inner end of the shaft 4 is provided with a small drum 5, securelyfastened thereto and extending a short distance beyond the end of the shaft to receive the inner end of the shaft 2, thus forming a bearing and support for both shafts and still admitting each to be operated independently of the other. The shaft 2 is also provided with a drum 6 at its inner end, securely fastened thereto. These drums 5 and 6 have the operating ropes or chains 7 7 wrapped around them, the ropes being operated in turn by the levers 8 8 in the cab of the locomotive. A large washer 9 is loosely mounted on the shaft 2 between the inner ends of the drums 5 and 6 to pre vent the operating-ropes from interferin with each other. The outer ends of the shafts 2 and 4 have securely fastened thereto the depending crank-arms 1O 10, the free ends of which are bifurcated and contain the looselyrevolving disk wheels 11 11.

Each of the crank-arms is provided with a projecting lug 12, designed to engage the stop 13, securely fastened to the supporting-frame 3. 14 represents the verticallymovable treads located within reasonable proximity to the railroad-rails 15 and operatively connected with the switch, as shown in a companion application filed herewith.

As before stated, the two sides of this device are entirely independent, but are operated in exactly the same manner and perform the same functions. To convey this idea more clearly, I have shown the crank-arm 10 on the shaft 4 as raised and in an inactive position, while the other crank-arm is shown down and in an active position, as when depressing a tread or bar.

The operation of the invention is as follows: When the locomotive is approaching a switch which the engineer wishes to operate, he will take hold of one of the levers 8, according to which tread he wishes to depress, and by a backward pull of the same will impart a revolving motion to one of the shafts 2 or 4 through the medium of the ropes or chains 7 around the drum on the shaft. When the shaft is revolved in this manner, the crank-arm 10 is turned down to an active position until the lug 12 comes in contact with the stop 13, and as the locomotive advances the wheel 11 will enga e and actuate the tread to be depressed. t will be seen that during the operation no strain whatever will be put upon any of the ropes or operating mechanism, the only tendency being to lift the entire truck-frame, the only rigid part of the pony-truck except the wheels and their axles. The lifting strain will thus be effec- ICO tually met and the object of de ressing the tread accomplished. The cran arm is returned again to its original position by the lever 8. I have shown this attachment placed just in advance of the forward wheels of the truck, but do not wish to confine myself to this particular location, as better results may be obtained by placing it just back of the wheels, where it would be less liable to become clogged with dirt or snow and ice and be in position to take more direct weight from the forward part of the engine.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination, with a motor-truck frame, of a shaft journaled therein, a drum secured on said shaft, a cable wound on said drum for operating the same at a distance, and an antifriction bearing-wheel carried by the outer end of said shaft and arranged to be depressed to a point below the top of the track-rails, for the purpose specified.

2. The combination, with a motor-truck, of a shaft journaled therein, a drum secured on said shaft, a cable wound on said drum for operating the same at a distance, a crank secured on said shaft, a bearing-wheel carried by said crank, and means for limiting the oscillating movement of said crank and shaft.

3. The combination, with a motor-truck, of a shaft journaled therein, means within control of the driver for rocking said shaft, a crank secured on said shaft and provided with a bearing-wheel 11 and a lug 12 at opposite ends, and a stop 13 arranged to engage said lug and arrest the oscillating movement of said crank and shaft, substantially as de scribed.

4:. The combination, with a motor-truck, of two shafts journaled therein in line with each other, means within control of the driver for oscillating said shafts, cranks secured on the outer ends of said shafts and provided with antifriction bearing-wheels, and stops for limiting the oscillating move ment of said cranks and shafts.

5. The combination, with a motor-truck, of the shafts 2 and 4 journaled therein, a washer 9 provided between the contiguous ends of said shafts, drums 5 and 6 secured on said shafts, cables wound upon said drums, levers connected to said cables for revolving said shafts, and cranks mounted upon the outer ends of said shafts and having suitable bearing-wheels, for the purpose specified.

6. The combination, with a motor-truck, of shafts journaled therein upon opposite sides of the truck, each shaft being movable independently of the other one, drums provided on said shafts, cables coiled around said drums, and depressible tread devices carried by the outer ends of said shafts and arranged to be depressed to a point below the top of the rails, substantially as described.

7. The combination, with a motor-truck, of shafts journaled therein on opposite sides of the truck, each shaft being operable independently of the other one, means wi thin control of the driver for rocking said shafts, depressible tread devices carried by said shafts and arranged to be depressed below the top of the track-rails, substantially as described.

8. The combination, with a motor-truck, of a shaft journaled therein, a drum secured on said shaft, a cable wound on said drum for operating the same at a distance, and means carried by said shaft and arranged to be depressed to a point below the top of the track rails, for the purpose specified.

In witness whereof 1 have hereunto set my hand this 11th day of July, 1904.

SYLVESTER' G. STEVENS.

In presence of- J o. W. WHITNEY, N. J. STEVENS. 

